Lib/Lab advocate 'gay marriage' in churches

Labour and the Lib Dems in Scotland have committed themselves to changing the law so that civil partnerships could be held in Scottish churches.

Labour and the Lib Dems in Scotland have both vowed to change the law to allow homosexual civil partnerships to be registered in churches, mosques or synagogues.The two parties made the commitments in their manifestos ahead of Scottish Parliamentary elections on 5 May. There is no such commitment in the manifesto of the Scottish Conservatives, and the Scottish National Party has yet to launch its manifesto.

Separate

The issue is entirely separate from that of legalising full same-sex marriage, which the Lib Dems also support and which Labour has promised to consult on.In Scotland at present, homosexual civil partnership registrations are civil arrangements and by law they cannot take place inside religious buildings.Last year the Westminster Parliament changed the law for England and Wales to allow churches, if they wish to, to perform such registrations on their premises.

Coercive

The change has yet to come into force. The Government in London is currently consulting on how the new law will work in practice.Although the new law for England and Wales does not force churches to take part, critics say it may become coercive in the future.Earlier this year, a number of evangelical organisations including The Christian Institute issued a joint statement voicing their concern about the issue.

Demands

The statement noted that a small number of religious groups already allow their clergy to bless civil partnerships, but added that these groups are also keen to be able to register the controversial unions.The statement said: “In response to the demands of these groups, the Government is embarking on a course of action that is bringing it into conflict with thousands of evangelical churches and the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church.”The organisations also warned that changing the law to allow civil partnerships in churches would breach previous assurances made to Parliament about the nature of the same-sex partnerships.

Breach

The statement said: “It is a breach of undertakings made by Government ministers during debates on the Civil Partnership Bill.“Parliament was persuaded to pass that Bill, in part, because it was made clear that civil partnership was a civil rather than a religious institution and would not take place in religious premises.”The evangelical bodies also warned that any new legislation must protect churches that disagree with the same-sex unions from litigation.

Protect

The Government has previously suggested an ‘opt-in’ scheme for religious bodies that want to register civil partnerships, which it says will protect churches.The evangelical groups’ statement concluded:

“When it comes to equality legislation, permission often turns rapidly into coercion.“In a country where faith-based adoption agencies have been forced to close or cut their religious ties by equality law, where Christian marriage registrars can be dismissed for their religious views on marriage and where Christian B & B owners are forced to pay compensation to same-sex couples, Christians will need a great deal of reassurance that the Government is not about to do something that will make their situation even worse.”

SignitoriesThe joint statement, entitled Homosexual marriage and the registration of civil partnerships in churches, was signed by five evangelical Christian organisations.These were Affinity, The Christian Institute, Christian Concern, Reform and the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches.

2. Make life more difficult for ourselves by isolating people and groups?

2 Timothy 3"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good..."

I for one would defy the law if it came into being, but whatever happened to hating the sin, but loving the sinner?

The SNP has pledged to consult on same-sex marriage, it was announced yesterday.

The party made the pledge in the ‘Wellbeing’ section of its manifesto for the Scottish Parliamentary elections, which are to be held on 5 May.

The move comes just days after the Scottish Labour Party announced it would consult on ‘options’ regarding same-sex marriage and the Scottish LibDems announced their full support for it.Consultation

Under the heading ‘A more equal Scotland’, the SNP’s manifesto states: “Scotland can never be considered truly successful until all of its citizens consider themselves to be equally valued members of society.

“We are determined that Scotland will constantly strive to be a more equal society”, the party stated.

“We recognise the range of views on the questions of same-sex marriage and registration of civil partnership.

“We will therefore begin a process of consultation and discussion on these issues.”

It will be interesting to see what the Scottish govt announce in the next day or two, particularly in light of the fact that of more than 80000 respondants to the consultation, 2/3rds are against the redifining of marriage.

I suspect that Alex Salmond & co want to be the first in the UK to be PC and legislate for gay marriage, thinking that it will gain him kudos. The truth is it will cause a backlash because he is out of touch with the majority, hence the reason the RC church are calling for a referendum.

Simon sez (Guest)

18/07/2012 12:57

Have they kicked it into the long grass, or is this quiet before the storm?!

The campaign for the legalisation of same-sex ‘marriage’ is not an equality or inclusiveness issue. It is also not a matter of political correctness. Neither is it primarily about the redefinition of marriage, it is about the redefinition of morality. A legalised redefinition of marriage will be used to stealthily compel society (particularly through the education system) to embrace disordered values and practices.

If the number of persons availing themselves of the recognition of civil partnership is anything to go by, then it is likely, that relatively speaking not many people will avail themselves of same-sex ‘marriage’. If same-sex ‘marriage’ is legalised it will dramatically advance the desensitisation of the nation with regard to what is right and what is wrong. It will in particular provide an insidious vehicle for the corruption of our children when it is introduced into the education system including nursery and primary school levels. Older children will be taught how to engage in immoral sexual activity under the guise of sexual health education. Education authorities will have to employ and approve only those teachers who agree to a binding assurance that their teaching will be in harmony with the new legislation. In this connection log onto http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9VnzaH-uf8

The web site http://www.christian.org.uk/news/homosexual-education-pack-axed-from-scottish-schools/ provides clear evidence of how the Scottish Parliament was issuing homosexual education packs to children even before their same-sex ‘marriage’ legislation proposals have been made law. This is surely an indication of how vigorously they (and the English government) will apply themselves to the task when they have the law to back them, and then the indoctrination will commence in earnest.

We mustn’t be deceived into believing any assurances that there will be exceptions granted to parents, teachers, churches or any other interested persons or parties who object, on religious, conscience or any other relevant grounds, even if such exceptions are included in the legislation. Once on the statute book, other existing (including European) legislation will be brought into play to sweep away those ‘concessions’ in the same-sex ‘marriage’ legislation, and where that fails in its objective, amendments of the new legislation will easily follow. After that, any opposition will be swiftly dealt with under the charge that to even civilly say anything in opposition to that which has become law in this regard will be interpreted as encouraging adverse discrimination and engendering hate, or incitement to breaking the law. This will also apply to parents and others who attempt to counter what is being taught in school.

The toleration of immorality is something far different from the legalising of immorality, and the exposing of the young to legitimised immorality is heinous.

In his book Memory and Identity (page 13), Bl. Pope John Paul II, writes regarding this matter, “It is legitimate and even necessary to ask whether this is not the work of another ideology of evil, more subtle and hidden, perhaps, intent upon exploiting human rights themselves against man and against the family. As to why this happens he goes on to say, “The answer is simple: it happens because of the rejection of God qua Creator, and consequently qua source determining what is good and what is evil.”

Pope Benedict XVI in his book Jesus of Nazareth, part 2 (page153), writes “Across the centuries, it is the drowsiness of the disciples that opens up possibilities for the power of the Evil One. Such drowsiness deadens the soul, so that it remains undisturbed by the power of the Evil One at work in the world and by all the injustice and suffering ravaging the earth. In its state of numbness the soul prefers not to see this; it is easily persuaded that things cannot be so bad, so as to continue in the self-satisfaction of its own comfortable existence. Yet this deadening of souls, this lack of vigilance regarding both God’s closeness and the looming forces of darkness is what gives the Evil One power in the world.”

In conclusion and by way of reassurance, I would advise you that I am aligned with the teaching of the church in that "every human person is a unique and irreplaceable gift created by our loving God," and therefore must be treated with love, respect and dignity.

Simon sez (Guest)

18/07/2012 15:34

Anon,

You make some very intersting points, particularly in light of Rom 1: 18 - 25. however quoting heads of the RC church is a bit unfortunate given all that has been, and still is being covered up within their tradition!